Spend five minutes listening to ILENE, and it’s clear: she’s not trying to fit into your playlist — she’s trying to flip it inside out. With a voice that cuts through the noise and a mind that finds inspiration in plumbing mishaps and video games, ILENE is part pop rebel, part lyrical trickster, and completely unbothered by anyone’s expectations.
Born Monica Ilene Lackey, the genre-defying artist first gained traction on BandLab, where her unfiltered songwriting and magnetic presence earned her two global songwriting awards and the platform’s first-ever Creator Grant in 2022. That DIY success wasn’t just a footnote — it’s the foundation of her artistry. Every song, whether it leans pop, hyperpop, or alt-R&B, feels like a dare: to listen deeper, to laugh louder, and to let go of the rules.
ILENE isn’t here to perform respectability. She’s here to have fun — and to make sure you do too, even if she has to scandalize you in the process. Her latest single “HONEY NUT” is a prime example: a raunchy, weird, and hilarious track that dares you not to shout “Mario, cheerio, cereal” on repeat. But behind the punchlines is an artist who’s dead serious about pushing boundaries — not just musical ones, but cultural ones too.
As a multiracial woman navigating an industry that often wants to categorize based on skin tone and sound, ILENE has had to fight for the right to just exist as she is. “People still let identity politics and preconceived notions influence how they consume music,” she says. “I’m Black and I’m everything else. Two things can be true at the same time.” It’s a conversation she doesn’t shy away from — because her identity is as layered as her lyrics.
Now, with an upcoming EP produced by Epikh Pro (the Grammy-nominated force behind hits from Bryson Tiller, Cardi B, and Eminem), ILENE is ready to open the floodgates. “It’s like the inside of my closet,” she says. “There are panties, a tee, a cardigan, a mini skirt, rollerskates — everything.” She’ll be dropping singles monthly, each a new window into the beautiful chaos of her mind.
If you’re looking for an artist who colors outside the lines — and sets the coloring book on fire — ILENE’s your girl. She’s building her own lane, laughing all the way, and daring the world to keep up.